Archive results for “January 2010f 2010”

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A Surprising Change to our Debt…

I am nearly finished with our taxes. We are waiting on two more forms to arrive in the mail before we can finalize the forms.

I spent about an hour compiling information and completing forms in the tax software. It was far easier than I expected and I am a bit perturbed at how difficult our accountant made us think it was and more importantly… how much he charged us to do it.

It’s upsetting to me how many hundreds of dollars we have wasted in the past for something so terribly simple.

Don’t tell my husband but… I actually enjoyed doing it. The chronic organizer/obsessive compulsive in me loved the structure and numbers. My husband offered to do the dishes for a week if I took care of the taxes. If he finds out I actually enjoyed it, I’m on KP duty again so… shhh!

So far, the results are going to make a change to our debt. We can’t finalize anything until mid-week but as it stands now, it’s a far different number than we were expecting.

More? Less? Are we going to have to pull out our credit card to pay the tax due or are we getting some cash back?

I guess you’ll have to wait and see…

Posted by Beks on January 31, 2010 at 9:32 PM in taxes | 9 Comments »
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Thankful for bills and weight gain?

This afternoon, a co-worker offered to take me to lunch since I had stayed late to complete a project with her. We walked to a local deli and were chatting about weight gain as we ate our giant ‘healthy’ sandwiches. I glanced at the TV hanging on the wall as she went to refill her soda while photos of Haiti popped on the screen. Police were spraying huge crowds with pepper spray because riots had broken out over food rationing.

I looked down at my doughy fresh sandwich and immediately felt guilty.

I forget that sometimes, weight gain is a blessing.

The first of the month is around the corner. I can hear the collective groan. Bills are due. Stress is high.

Be thankful for what you have. There are those who would trade you in an instant.

Posted by Beks on January 29, 2010 at 8:50 PM in Confessions | 6 Comments »
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Good Workout? No Gym Required…

I haven’t been released to exercise since I came down with pneumonia, but I figured I could exercise a little without doing too much damage. Never mind the fact that I haven’t exerted any sort of physical energy for the last 60 or so days. I was just so tired of feeling like a sick train wreck, I thought exercising might make me feel more like the old me.

My husband bought me the Wii Active More Workouts game for Christmas so I figured that would be a good place to start. Users are given the option to choose easy, medium, or hard workouts. Given my current situation, I chose… medium.

The overachiever in me is incapable of choosing any option labeled ‘easy’.

And maybe, this choice would have been fine… had I not exchanged the flimsy resistance band from the package to my ultra strong 3 layer band.

31 minutes later I was sweating, gasping for breath, and wishing I had taught my dog to fetch my inhaler. Just thinking about the ‘hard’ level gives me night terrors.

I’m cancelling my gym membership.

Posted by Beks on January 27, 2010 at 9:45 PM in Saving Money | 7 Comments »
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Continuing the Making Home Affordable Program…

As I’ve said before, I am in the process of applying for the Making Home Affordable program. I am not looking to reduce my principle balance – I’m trying to get my high interest rates reduced to within 1-2% of the market range.

In October of last year, I was approved for the Making Home Affordable program through Bank of America. I was told I would receive the paperwork in 45 business days or less. Surprise. Surprise. It’s been over 60 business days and I have yet to see any paperwork from my lender (except the multiple pre-approvals for Home Equity Lines of Credit they send each month).

I called last week to check the status and was told to call back the next day. They continued to tell me to call back for 3 days. Late last week, I was told I was no longer qualified for the Making Home Affordable Program. After months of delays, this was disheartening news.

I called again last night to discuss my refinancing options and was told I was still being considered for the Making Home Affordable program and was told to call back in two weeks.

Based on the current progress, I should have this resolved by the time I pay off my home in 30 years.

Posted by Beks on January 26, 2010 at 5:00 AM in Making Home Affordable Program | 12 Comments »
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Escalating Taxes…

In an effort to curtail the California state financial crisis, lawmakers have decided to ‘temporarily’ raise our income taxes. They promise to reduce the taxes mid-year but I have yet to meet someone who believes that to be true.

How much is the hike for us?

$50 a month.

I stared at my already lean budget and tried to find a line item to reduce. I’m already dancing with danger in my necessity line items. My ‘check engine’ light came on again but unless I can fix it for the $37 I have in my car repair fund, it won’t happen. I sadly looked at the non-necessity line items, pulled out my ugly red pen, and started scratching off our once monthly dinner out, my Saturday morning bike ride icy lemonade stop, and stretched the distance between haircuts to 14 weeks.

Thank you California.

I think lawmakers are hoping residents will forget about the painful tax hike 10 months from now when they are up for re-election but I have this to say…

My ratty split ends will remind me.

I’m off to send good vibes to my car. Maybe if I wash it lovingly and talk to it sweetly, it will fix itself.

Posted by Beks on January 25, 2010 at 5:00 AM in Saving Money | 14 Comments »
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Time to Purchase Tax Software at Sale Price…

For those of you who are using TurboTax software this year… the sale prices have begun.

Amazon.com has reduced their price by 25% (to 44.99)
Costco has a $10 off coupon until Jan. 24th (to $39.99)

If you find a better deal (on any software), share! I think we could all use a break this year.

Posted by Beks on January 23, 2010 at 12:13 PM in Ways I Save Money | 10 Comments »
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Unemployment Mistakes…

I read an interesting article in Time magazine by Nina Easton about the fifth extension of unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits can now run up to 99 weeks.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953704,00.html

She believes the extra long extensions to unemployment benefits are detrimental to pulling the economy out of the gutter.

My first reaction was to disagree. This is a tough economy and finding a job is difficult but… now I’m beginning to wonder if she’s right.

When I was laid off in late 2008, I didn’t apply for unemployment. I was so sure I’d find a job quickly that I didn’t want to deal with the paperwork. I hand delivered 5-7 applications a day and before I knew it, 4 weeks had slipped by. I started to panic and a sense of desperation overwhelmed me. I bumped up my search, applied for any and every job including dog trainer and street sweeper, and found a job before 2009 started. I worked pushing shopping carts and boxing groceries until I found a permanent position.

When my husband was laid off in late 2009, he searched for jobs in his field and applied for an average of 3 jobs a week. We knew unemployment bought us about 6-9 months worth of time and were willing to wait for the right position. He was eventually re-hired for his old position a few months later.

No, I don’t think this is true of everyone but I do wonder if nearly two years of unemployment checks is only making the problem worse.

Posted by Beks on January 21, 2010 at 8:59 PM in unemployment | 28 Comments »
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